Full disclosure, I currently own this pin and its my first pin ever. I looked through the ratings, video reviews, and other website opinions about Spooky and this specific machine. I was very intent on owning this due to the theme of the machine and even with the reviews against it I bought this machine nearly blind and only based on videos/gut shot.
Backstory, I been playing pinball for a very long time and the itch to buy one finally crept up on me after visiting pinball museums, bars, and arcades. I figured out that i am very much into a more casual pinball machine, with solid toys, gimmicks, or themes (Stern's new machines don't hit this mark for me). Halloween hits nearly every category of what I prefer and I will break it further in the pros/cons
Pros:
- Halloween is an overall casual game that beginners and intermediate level players will enjoy. Most of the shots aren't difficult short of the hedge, final house ramp, and left orbit. Therefore most people will trigger events almost immediately without even trying. The stop and go is a plus in my book as it allows solid pacing and feels correct for this game/theme. Multiple ways to get Multiball which always feels good for anybody playing a pinball.
- The theme/sound is a homerun upon initial play. it's a very immersive game that will get any fan of the theme excited and set you down a nostalgic ride. Along with great art on the cabinet, playfield, and screen.
- (Price) The code has improved the machine quite a bit and added more modes. I tried version 1.06 and then 1.14 and could see a clear difference and understand what everybody else in the reviews are talking about. This leads to price because as of right now you can get this machine for the same price of many used Pro Stern Pinball machines and cheaper than a new Stern machine. Overall bang for your buck this hits the mark and is a solid although more pricey starter pin than some of the other older machines. To give a 1:1 example, I couldn't imagine paying for a Stranger Thing's pro over the Halloween (CE). There are other's I could list but this is the issue I ran into when purchasing.
Cons:
- Although the machine is overall easy to play, there are some feel bad moments. Such as the pumpkin scoop bounces off quite a bit and will require a mod to facilitate that issue. The middle ramp is another feel bad moment where you can perfectly hit it and the ball will still come sliding back straight down the middle and drain. If you know how to nudge this is solvable but that shouldn't be a way to solve the issue. The shot at most times will be made but there are moments where its succeeding 50% or less and it feels utterly painful. Final ramp in the house also feels pretty bad as its not an easy shot to make and is tiny as hell. Shots aren't suppose to be easy but I do believe things need to work as intended.
- The sound is great but some of it can be repetitive at times. I went through a lot of the dialogue rather quickly but the videos are pretty cool still and I don't get tired of it. If it's bothering me as a fan of the genre. I could see it being more annoying for others.
- The toys although are fine, I believe could have had more going for it. This machine was made in 2021 and doesn't hold up to some other toys I have seen in other Pinball Machines. There is some empty space where people have had to add their own mods, Which is fine and part of the community but is a knock again the machine itself. There is no toy that truly stands out when I can point to others and go " Oh this machine has X wait till you see it operate".
Overall the wife and I love this machine and really happy we took a leap of faith and picked this up over other machines that were readily available and in the price range.
Minneapolis, MN
Melksham
Criquebeuf-sur-seine
